Plasma, urinary, and salivary 8-epi-prostaglandin F-2 alpha levels in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to measure and compare plasma, urinary, and sali vary concentrations of 8-epi-prostaglandin F-2 alpha (8-isoprostane) in wom en with normotensive pregnancies and the respective concentrations in pregn ancies complicated by preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Plasma, urinary, and salivary 8-isoprostane levels were measu red in pregnant women with preeclampsia (n = 40), normotensive pregnant wom en (n = 20), and nonpregnant women (n = 10). One-way analysis of variance w as used to determine significant differences. RESULTS: Plasma free 8-isoprostane concentrations were increased in women w ith severe preeclampsia (342 +/- 50 pg/mL), in comparison with nonpregnant women (129 +/- 17 pg/mL) and normotensive pregnant women (150 +/- 11 pg/mL; P = .003, and. 0001, respectively). Urinary excretion of 8-isoprostane was slightly but not significantly decreased in preeclampsia (1200 +/- 227 pg/ mL), in comparison with urinary excretion in nonpregnant women (1625 +/- 36 4 pg/mL) and normotensive pregnant women (2149 +/- 432 pg/mL). Salivary con centrations of 8-isoprostane were increased in normotensive women (496 +/- 113 pg/mL), in comparison with nonpregnant women (150 +/- 27 pg/mL) but wer e not related to preeclampsia (419 +/- 96 pg/mL;, P less than or equal to . 003). CONCLUSION: Free 8-isoprostane concentrations are increased in the plasma o f women with severe preeclampsia. Further studies are warranted to determin e whether such increases are caused by an increase in phospholipase A(2) ac tivity or by lipid peroxidation, or by a decrease in renal excretion.